Method of repairing wells having corroded sand points



July 7,I 1936. A. cLAsEN ET Al.

METHOD OF REPAIRING WELLS HAVING CORRODED SAND-POINTS Original Filed May 8., 1934 3mm/DS I7. (Vasen E5 i Gi @f P. i V 5 X-Schals I Patented July 7, 1936 METHOD oF REPAmrNG WELLS HAVING coRRoDED SAND PorN'rs Anthony Clasen and Frank X. Scholtes,

Kilgore, Nebr.

Original application May 8, 1934, Serial No. 724,597. Divided land this application May 21,

1935, Serial No. 22,645

2 claims. (c1. 16e-2n This' invention relates to. methods of repairing wells having corroded sand points. In old wells which have been in use for a number of years, the screen of the sand point becomes corroded and also becomes stopped up so that the water cannot get through the perforations in the sand point pipe. Furthermore, where the screen has become corroded, the-meshes are eaten away and the screen no longer acts as a screen. This means that the pipe of the well must be pulled and a new pipe inserted with a new sand point, and sometimes it means that a new well must be dug, particularly in deep Wells, as pulling and. replacing sand points in deep wells is rarely a success. f

The present invention is a division of our pending application, Ser. No. 724,597, filed May 8. 1934, on Sand point punchers for wells, and the general object of the present invention is to provide a method of repairing wells which comprises inserting a tool into the old sand point and puncturing the outer screen of the sand point through the perforations in the inner tube of the sand point, then withdrawing the tool and inserting I'within the old and now punctured sand point a smaller sand point in which, of course, the screen is perfect, and supporting this new sand point in position within the old sand point.

A mechanism for carrying out this method is shown in our prior application above referred to and is illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 `is a longitudinal sectional view through a corroded sand point showingA our means for opening the sand point;

Figure 2 is a side face elevation ofthe punching tool with a sectional view of the pipe connection thereto;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical section of a sand point after having been opened` by the use ofthe tool and showing a second sand point inserted within the first.

Referring to this drawing, A designates an old sand point and B the perforated metal screen thereof, it being understood that ordinarily there is a screen of wire gauze or like material designated b between the main screen B and the pipe A. The pipe A is perforated with a plurality of relatively large apertures a disposed in vertical rows and in more or less staggered relation to each other.

Th sand point A with its screen is engaged at its upper end by a coupling C which in turn engages the pipe D. 'I'he lower end of the pipe D is formed with a shoulder d. So far, we have described the ordinary and common construc- `tion of a sand point, it being understood that the pipe D extends upward to the surface of the ground and is connected to a pump.

When the screen composed of a perforated 5 sheet B and the inner wire fabric b becomes corroded and lclogged, the passage of water into the interior of the sand point is obstructed or prevented entirely. Under these circumstances, our invention is used for the purpose of opening aperl0 tures through the screen B, b, atf the perforationsa.

'Ihe implement which we have devised for this purpose consists of a relatively heavy strip of resilient metal designated I0. This strip at one end is provided with screw threads I I whereby it may be engaged with a pipe section I2. 'I'he opposite end of the strip is longitudinally slotted and formed with eyes I3. The strip I0 carries upon it preferably a number of rollers Il engag- 20 ing against the inner face of the sand point pipe A.

Disposed within the slot is a star-shaped punching wheel or rowell designated I5, the points of which are sharpened. 'I'he strip I0 25 may be sinuous or formed with a single arcuate bend so that when this strip is inserted within the sand pipe A, the strip of metal is placed under suchftension that the rowell is forced with considerable force against the wall of the sand pipe A. Under these circumstances, if the clean-y ing tool or implement be reciprocated, the points of the rowell, which points are spaced apart the ordinary distance of the perforations a in the sand point, will enter these perforations and will puncture the screen B, b, in the manner shown in Figure 1. After the tool has been shifted longitudinally downward fory the full length of the sand point and has reached the lower unperforated end thereof, it may be given a turnequal to the circumferential distance between one row of perforations, av and the next adjacent row and-thenagain reciprocated and so on until all of the perforations of the several rows have been entered by the spurs of the rowell and the screen B, b, punched out.

Of course, this sand point with its punched out strainer is no longer capable of properly` functioning and, therefore, after the withdrawal of the cleaning tool, we lower into the well a new sand point designated A' which is of the same character as the sand point A but is smaller than this sand point. 'Ihis sand point A is also formed with perforations and with a screen over the perforations and at its upper end is pro- 55 vided with a head or coupling I6 which is adapted to rest upon the shoulder d. A check valve I1 -is engaged with the coupling I6 or disposed on top thereof in the usual mannerand, of course, the piston of the pump operates above this check valve which acts as a standing valve.

It will be seen, therefore, that an old and corroded sand point may be punched out and a. new sand point inserted so that the well can function properly with very slight expense and without the necessity of pulling the-well pipe.

While we have described a certainmechanism for carrying out this method, it is to beunderstood that this method might be carried out by other mechanisms and that -the mechanism might be varied in many ways without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

While we have illustrated the upper endo! the element l0 as being screw threaded at Il for engagement with a pipe section I2, we may also use the pipe section I2, as shown in Figure 1, that is, fitting the shank of the element I0 and simply bolted thereto by the bolt I8.

What is claimed is:-

1. The method of repairing wells having sand points the outer ilne wire screen of which is corroded, comprising inserting a tool into the sand point and puncturing the outer ne wire screen of the sand point through the perforations in the inner tube of the sand point tothus destroy the action of the exterior fine wire screen, withdrawing the tool, and inserting a smaller sand point having an exterior fine wire screen within the old sand point, and supporting it in position therein.

2. 'Ihe method of repairing wells having sand points comprising an inner perforated tube and an outer layer of fine wire mesh, the ne wire mesh being corroded, the corroded sand point being connected to the tube of the well by a coupling having an inwardly projecting flange; consisting in inserting a tool into the sand point and puncturing the outer fine wire screen oi.' the sand point through the perforations in the tube of the sand point to thus render the outer screen entirely ineil'ective, withdrawing the tool and inserting a smaller sand point having an inner perforated tube and an outer screen of fine wire mesh within the old sand point and supporting it upon the inwardly projecting flange of the coupling.

ANTHONY CLASEN. FRANK X. SCHOLTES. 

